Oklahoma ranks close to the bottom nationwide in multiple areas of the tech industry, and it’s also losing more than half of its STEM graduates to other states
A new report by the Oklahoma Technology Alliance digs into the tech industry and shines a light on how we compare nationally.
“The opportunity exists, the demand exists. Now, Oklahoma needs the people’s skills and collaboration to capture the growth and continue to significantly contribute to our economy,” said Travis Gould, managing director at Accenture Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma technology alliance commissioned a study to look at where the state ranks in the tech industry, and how it can improve.
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“I think it’s very important for the state of Oklahoma to be at the forefront and make sure that we are proactive and we are tackling the issues that face the technology sector.” Brent Skarky, spokesperson for the state chamber, said.
Oklahoma ranks 47th in tech job growth, 41st in patents, 40th in advanced industry jobs, 35th in research and development funding, and is struggling to keep qualified workers in state.
Only 47% of people with a STEM degree stay in the state, with 17% leaving for Texas.
“We need to retain it in the state. And as I mentioned, no individual company or organization can do it alone,” said Gould.
Tech leaders agree that the solution starts with education.
“I think we, as Universities, we can do better. We need to do better. Universities generate so many important things, and we need to be better about moving them out of the university and into society, where really the impacts are tended to happen,” said Matt Hulver, VP of research and partnerships at the University of Oklahoma.
The report also calls for more investment in research and development, which would make it easier to turn research happening in schools into new products and businesses, growing the industry.
“I think we need to tell a better story to convince the legislators why the investments are needed,” Hulver said.
The Oklahoma Technology Alliance believes that each year Oklahoma waits to make change, the gaps in research investment and talent get harder to close. Concluding that the choices the state makes now will ultimately determine the future of technology — businesses, government, and education all hold a piece of the solution.
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